U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Matthew Mordas
LANCASTER - Mr. Matthew J. Mordas, 76, of 2220 White Pine Court died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at Springs Memorial Hospital.
The funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Catherine Catholic Church, with Father William Pentis officiating.
A native of Pawtuckett, R.I., Mr. Mordas was a son of the late Leon Mordas and Anna Olbrych Mordas. He was a retired production manager for the Whitaker Corp. and was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church.
Surviving are his wife, Margaret Mordas; his son , Stephen L. Mordas of Bridgewater, Mass.; his daughter, Melissa J. Mordas of Charlotte; his sister, Irene Bennett of Grand Junction, 
Colo.; his brother, Leon P. Mordas of Pearl River, N.Y.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at home.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 6604, Columbia, SC 29260 or the National Kidney Foundation, P.O. Box 1316, Columbia, SC 29202.
Mahaffey Funeral Home is in charge.
Amos Walker
CATAWBA - Mr. Amos Reo Walker of 3062 Anderson Road died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at the home of his daughter in Rock Hill.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Ray Thompson officiating and the Revs. Garrison, James T. Barber and Osbey Roddey assisting. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
A native of Rock Hill, Mr. Walker was a son of the late Isaac Walker and Fannie Belk Walker. He was the widower of Lillie B. Crawford Walker. He attended York County School and was a member of Liberty Hill Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir. He was a veteran of World War II and was a retired brick mason.
Surviving are four sons, Michael Walker of Rock Hill, David Walker of Catawba, and Earnest Walker and Charles Walker, both of Charlotte; six daughters, Gloria Walker Austin of Charlotte, Sandra Walker and Reola Meeks, both of Rock Hill, Naomia McCullough of Edgemoor, Mary Ross of York and Lillie White of the home; his sister, Beatrice Fitzgerald of Wilmington, Del.; 29 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Robinson Funeral Home and at other times at 734 S. York Ave., Rock Hill.
Richard Mueller
SMYRNA - Mr. Richard L. Mueller, 64, of Smyrna died Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999, at home.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Divine Saviour Catholic Church, with the Rev. Edward McDivett officiating. Burial will be at The Oratory in Rock Hill.
A native of Detroit, Mr. Mueller was a son of the late Peter S. Mueller and Melvina Marie Racquepaw Mueller. He was a retired investment-properties contractor. He was a member of the Secular Order of Jesus of Mary Joseph.
Surviving are his wife, Joan Fleschner Mueller; his son, David Peter Mueller of Smyrna; his daughter, Sandra Mueller Connelly of Smyrna; his sister, Penny M. Smith of Leonard, Mich.; and six grandchildren.
Rosary will be said at 6:30 tonight at Bratton Funeral Home, and the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Divine Saviour Catholic Church, P.O. Box 342, York, SC 29745.
Viola Carter
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Mrs. Viola Smith Carter, 82, formerly of the Wilksburg community in Chester, died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999, in Buffalo.
The funeral will be Saturday in Buffalo. Burial will be in Buffalo.
A native of Chester County, Mrs. Carter was a daughter of the late George Smith and Novie Smith. She was the widow of Raymond Carter. She attended public schools in Chester County. She was a former member of Zion Pilgrim Baptist Church. She was a former factory worker.
Surviving are her sister, Cynthia S. Mayfield of Chester.
King's Funeral Home, 135 Cemetery St., is in charge of local arrangements.
Ezra Dewitt
ROCK HILL - Mr. Ezra Dewitt, 83, of 1060 Dunlap Roddey Road died Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999, at home.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Cauthen Funeral Home, with the Revs. Leroy Ellison and Robert Cannon officiating. Burial will be at Laurelwood Cemetery.
A native of Florence County, Mr. Dewitt was a son of the late Julius Dewitt and Minnie Huggins Dewitt. He was the widower of Jenette Dewitt. Mr. Dewitt was owner and operator of Dewitt's Bike and Key Shop. He was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church and was a former deacon at Oakdale Baptist Church. He participated in the Civilian Conservation Corp. Co. No. 1417 in Rodman. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and was a member of the American Legion.
Surviving are three sons, Randy Dewitt of Lebanon, Tenn., Andy Dewitt of Charlotte and Doug Dewitt of Rock Hill; five daughters, Patsy Mora of Chester and Sonja Arnold, Diane Crosby, Wanda Collins and Susie Huffstetler, all of Rock Hill; his sister, Ruby D. Kimmerlin of Florence; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Cauthen Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church, general fund, 620 Briarcliff Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Miles Johnson
LANCASTER - Teddy Miles Johnson IV, 3, of 4457 Rowell Road died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999.
A memorial service will be at a later date.
Miles attended the preschool program at First United Methodist Church and was an affiliate member of Hopewell United Methodist Church.
Surviving are his parents, Teddy Miles Johnson III and Ashley Renee Shelton Johnson; his paternal grandparents Barbara and Teddy Miles Johnson Jr. of Orangeburg; his maternal grandparents, Jane and Gerald "Jerry" Shelton of Wilmington, N.C.; his maternal great-grandparents, Margie and Walter P. Keziah of Lincolnton, N.C.; his maternal great-grandmother, Kate Shelton of Logan, W. Va.; and his paternal great-grandmothers, Rose Johnson and Mame Bachus, both of Sumter.
Memorials may be made to Hopewell United Methodist Church,
3724 Heyward Hough Road, Lancaster, SC 29720.
A register will be provided for family and friends to sign during business hours at Hartley Funeral Home.
Esther Ridgley
TEGA CAY - Mrs. Esther Wilson Ridgley, 59, of Tega Cay died Wed-nesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at University Hospital in Charlotte.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Grace Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Art Gatewood officiating.
A native of Washington, Ind., Mrs. Ridgley was a daughter of Ruby Lehman Wilson and the late Stanley "Red" Wilson. She was the widow of James Ridgley Sr. A homemaker, she attended Grace Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Tega Cay Beautification Committee.
Surviving are her daughter, Tamara Nalley of Fort Mill; her son, James Ridgley of Reno, Nev.; two brothers, David Wilson of Rock Hill and Stan Wilson of St. Charles, Mo.; and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 211, Charlotte, NC 29202 or to Grace Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 3454, Fort Mill, SC 29708.
The family will receive friends at the memorial service.
Wolfe Funeral Home is in charge.
John Watkins
ROCK HILL - Mr. John Isaac "Bubba" Watkins, 63, of 524 Bynum Ave. died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at home.
The funeral will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. L.L. Hancock officiating. Burial will be at Barber Memorial Cemetery.
A native of Fairfield County, Mr. Watkins was a son of the late Isaac "Doc" Watkins and Mary Scruggs Watkins. He was retired from the utilities department of the city of Rock Hill. He was a member of Cedar Grove Methodist Church and attended the public schools in Fairfield and York counties.
Surviving are his daughter, Scottie E. Blair of Roosevelt, N.Y.; his stepdaughter, Debra Thomas of Greensboro, N.C.; two adopted sons, Bernard M. Watkins of Columbia and Kenneth Ray M. Watkins of Rock Hill; two stepsons, Shelton Thomas of Rock Hill and Freddie Thomas of Las Vegas; five sisters, Ella Mae Simpson, Rebecca W. Howard, Mamie L. Lowery, Sallie B. Watkins and Willie Ann Watkins, all of Rock Hill; his special friend, Valgene Thomas of Rock Hill; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at home.The body may be viewed from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Parker Funeral Home.
The body will be taken to the church at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Helena White
ROCK HILL - Mrs. Helena White, 50, of 432 Green St. died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999, at home.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at By Faith Pentecostal Holiness Church, with Bishop Tommy L. Durham officiating. Burial will be at Barber Memorial Cemetery.
A daughter of the late Dolph Taylor and Delia Mae Walton, Mrs. White attended the York County public schools. A homemaker, she was a member of By Faith Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she served on the Mother's Board, Usher Board, and worked in the soup kitchen.
Surviving are her husband, Freddie White Jr.; two sons, Lorenzo Thoms and Anthony Thoms, both of Rock Hill; her daughter, Valtina Thoms of Rock Hill; six brothers, Joe Walton of Bridgeport, Conn., Randolph Taylor of London, Robert G. Taylor of New Jersey and Henry Walton, Earl Dean Taylor and William Jake Taylor, all of Rock Hill; her sister, Ira Mae Ruff of Rock Hill; and five grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at home.
The body may be viewed from 1 to 7 p.m. today at Parker Funeral Home.
The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Mary Wright
LANCASTER - Mrs. Mary Self Wright, 75, of 947 11th St. died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte.
The funeral will be 4 p.m. today at Second Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. James D. Spencer III officiating. Burial will be at Lancaster Memorial Park.
A native of Lancaster, Mrs. Wright was a daughter of the late Levy Jackson Self and Clara Ann Small Self. She was a retired employee of Springs Industries and was a member of Second Baptist Church.
Surviving are her daughter, Carol Jean Wright of Lancaster; her sister, Lillie S. Truesdale of Lancaster; her niece and nephew; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorials may be made to Second Baptist Church building fund, 1426 Great Falls Highway, Lancaster, SC 29720.
Mahaffey Funeral Home is in charge.
Ruthy Gaston
CHESTER - Mrs. Ruthy Mae Carpenter Gaston, 68, of 2653 Suzy Bole Road died Friday, Sept. 24, 1999, at home.
A graveside service will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Jodie Foster officiating.
A native of Atlanta, Mrs. Gaston was a daughter of the late William S. Carpenter and Janie Ann Wright Carpenter. She was a member of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church. She attended the schools of Atlanta and Chester County.
Surviving are her husband, Aubrey Y. Gaston; four daughters, Audrey Gaston, Ann Threat and Gale Gaston, all of Chester, and Dale McManus of Great Falls; four brothers, Jessie Carpenter of Fort Mill, Douglas Carpenter of Rock Hill, David Carpenter of Alabama and Leo Carpenter of Norfold, Va.; eight grandchildren; and her great-grandchild.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Barron Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, c/o Robert Bolin, 1544 McGill Road, Smyrna, SC 29743.
Lila Long
CHESTER - Mrs. Lila Mae Holley Long, 74, of 816 Andrew Long Drive died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999, at home.
The funeral will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Gethsemane Baptist Church, with the Rev. C.D. Pratt officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
A native of Blackstock, Mrs. Long was a daughter of the late Russell Holley and Anna Gladney Holley. She was the widow of Hollowed Long Sr.
She was retired from the Chester County school system, where she taught for 30 years, and she was a graduate of Coulter Academy in Cheraw and Benedict College of Columbia, where she received her bachelor's degree. She was a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church, where she was a deaconess and an usher. She was a member of the Missionary Circle, the order of Eastern Star and the A.P. Society.
Surviving are two sons, Hollowed Long Jr. of Chester and Randolph Long of Columbia; her daughter, Mary Ann Daniels; two brothers, Isaac Davis and Joseph Davis, both of Baltimore; two sisters, Mary Ellen Pulley and Joe Eller Thornton of Baltimore; and seven grandchildren.
Denton Funeral Home in Chester is in charge.
J. Nelson Lord
FORT MILL - Mr. J. Nelson Lord, 78, of 112 Banks Ridge Road died Friday, Sept. 24, 1999, at home.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wolfe Funeral Home.
A native of Paterson, N.J., Mr. Lord was a son of the late Jonathan Lord Sr. and Anna Ackerman Lord. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was a graduate of Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., and worked in the defense electronics field. Mr. Lord also owned a private motel in Boone, N.C.
Surviving are his wife, Muriel Eichler Lord; two sons, Kenneth N. Lord of Matthews, N.C., and J. Douglas Lord of Charlotte; two sisters, Betty Guild of Atlanta and Lois L. Ritz of Midland Park, N.J.; and his grandchild.
The family will receive friends at home after the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 6604, Columbia, SC 29260 or to the American Lung Association, 1817 Gadsden St., Columbia 29201.
Lillie Sims
HEATH SPRINGS - Mrs. Lillie Adams Sims, 76, of 4945 Flat Creek Road died Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999, at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill.
The funeral service will be 11 a.m. today at Fork Hill Baptist Church, with the Revs. Benjamin Simmons and James Adams officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Sims was a daughter of the late Minor Jackson and Lottie Estelle Hinson Adams. She was the widow of Raymond R. Sims.
She was a retired employee of Springs Industries and was a member of Fork Hill Baptist Church, where she was active in the Golden Age Group.
Surviving are two sons, Danny P. Sims and J.R. Sims, both of Heath Springs; her brother, Hite Adams of Lancaster; two sisters, Eva Hartley of Lancaster and Mable Sanders of Rock Hill; and two grandsons.
The family received friends at Mahaffey Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to Fork Hill Baptist Church, 1125 Fork Hill Road, Heath Springs, SC 29058.
